The Pot Pie House-Bethel, Claremont, NC

Bethel Lutheran Church- Claremont, North Carolina 

celebrated their 145th Anniversary this past weekend.

Serving in ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church
are Pastor Mike Ramey
 and Pastor Eric Hollar.

A crisp fall day with blue skies.

A wonderful welcome.

The first thing we learned 

about was the pot pie house.

Would you like to take a tour?

So, we were in for a history and culture lesson. 

The pot pie house was built in 1951.

 Wood kindling ready to stoke the fire.
This is the 91st year of the pot pie dinner.
 It started in 1924.

Before the house was built, the dinner 

was cooked over the open fires outside.

Rain could always make that a challenge.

 The kettles ready for layering
 chicken, broth and dough.

Rev. Mike and Laura Ramey- tour guides. 

 The brick smoke stack
 for the wood burning kettle hold.

Quite the set-up 

for the pot pie kettles.

Some news clippings 

telling the history of the dinner.

Pickin' chicken

 Pastor W.P. Hunsucker was the pastor
 when the dinner was started.

 Around the center chimney.

Some photos through the years. 

The pot pie dinner is served with cole slaw,
 pickles, cranberry sauce 
and home-baked cakes and cookies.

Judy Boston shared with us 
at a breakfast brunch
some of the story of the pot pie dinner.

Nellie Reitzel is the mother of Judy Boston.

Nellie Reitzel designed the pot pie house
 that was built in1951.
A later addition was completed in 1975.

It takes all hands on deck
 for this amazing event.

Long lists of sign up 
for helpers for the pot pie supper.

This event normally
 is set up to serve 1,000 dinners.
One year they advertised 
and 1500 showed up.
The rule is now- don't advertise.
But, if I were anywhere near Claremont, NC
 on Oct 24, 2015- 
I'd just have to stop by for pot pie take-out.